Lubrication of transfer plates using an oil or oil in water emulsions

Abstract

This disclosure relates to transfer plate lubricant compositions and methods of transporting open containers across stationary transfer plates.

1 . A method of lubricating a stationary transfer plate comprising:
 applying a lubricant composition to a stationary transfer plate, the lubricant composition comprising:
 a silicone oil; 
 an emulsifier selected from the group consisting of lecithin, ethoxysorbitan monostearate, glycerol monooleate, and 20 mole ethoxylated castor oil; and 
 water. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the silicone oil comprises polydimethylsiloxane. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the silicone oil is in the lubricant composition in an amount from about 0.0005 wt. % to about 0.10 wt. %. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant composition is applied by pumping the lubricant composition upward from holes in the stationary transfer plate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant composition is applied from at least one nozzle or bubbler. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant composition is applied from up to 6 nozzles or bubblers. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant composition is applied at a rate of about 6 to about 8 gallons per hour per nozzle or bubbler. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant composition is applied continuously. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant composition is applied discontinuously. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transporting containers over the stationary transfer plate in a single file at a rate of up of 2200 cans per minute. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transporting filled, unclosed containers across the stationary transfer plate with a forward translational velocity of greater than 40 feet per minute. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant composition is applied to the stationary transfer plate in an amount between about 1 mg/hour and about 100 mg/hour. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the unclosed containers move across the transfer plate at a forward translational velocity greater than that of a moving conveyer belt. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant composition further comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic diluent, antimicrobial agents, stabilizing agents, coupling agents, detergents, dispersing agents, corrosion inhibitors, chelants, water soluble lubricants, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the lubricant composition to the stationary transfer plates floods a plate surface with about 0.05 mL/cm 2  to about 0.2 mL/cm 2 . 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the silicone oil is part of a silicone emulsion. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the silicone emulsion comprises about 30 wt. % to about 70 wt. % of water. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the following:
 (a) a water insoluble organic compound including two or more ester linkages;   (b) a water insoluble organic compound including three or more oxygen atoms;   (c) a water insoluble organic compound including three or more oxygen atoms, one ester group, and one or more remaining or free hydroxyl groups;   (d) an ester of a long chain carboxylic acid with a short chain alcohol;   (e) an ester having an alcohol with 2 or more hydroxyl groups each being coupled to a carboxylic acid as an ester group;   (f) synthetic ester oil;   (g) free fatty acid;   (h) synthetic or natural hydrocarbon;   (i) an ester of a monocarboxylic fatty acid and a di- or poly-carboxylic acid;   (j) a natural oil; and   (k) mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the emulsifier is present in the lubricant composition in an amount from about 0.0001 wt. % to about 0.05 wt. %. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the silicone oil and the emulsifier in the lubricant composition is less than 5000 ppm.